winery review: ciderworks cidery

While most of the wineries we typically go to are out toward western Virginia, occasionally we’ll make the trek up to Maryland! There’s some nice places up there too, and specifically some unique places. The Orchid Cellar Meadery is one (post to come!) and Ciderworks is another! It makes the Antietam Wine Trail perfect to do a little tasting of all your favorite alcoholic beverages! I’ll save the mead and wine for other times, but Ciderworks is one of my favorites because it’s so unique.

It reminds me a little of Great Shoals actually (read the review), because it’s not made to be a grandiose tasting room catering to the masses. Ciderworks does have a tasting room, but it has about 4 seats and we had to wait briefly. It’s not necessarily the best bang for your buck in terms of tastings ($6 for 5 1oz pours), but it is cozy, the people are nice and the orchards are gorgeous. Though obviously we spend less time outside when it’s bitter cold out. The ciders will warm you up, and this time we got a limited edition Fireside, which was a bit dry on its own but peeeeeerfect for mixing with some warmed cider and sipping by the fireplace at home! The ciders are far less like your bottled woodchuck and strongbow and far more like champagne flavored with apples. Not even as intense or sweet as sparkling cider–far more on the champagne end of the spectrum.

They even have other attractions–a cider making workshop that I’ve yet to try, but think it could be fun! They also have Apple picking in the fall which is on my bucket list. Just haven’t had the timing work out quite yet, but we’re working on it for 2017! The only downside to the place that I can find is that we can’t bring our puppers there when it’s warm out! Sad face. Still, a solid 4 out of 5. Not quite amazing enough to trek all the way up to MD from where we are on our own, but when combined with some other favorites on the Antietam Wine Trail, definitely worth a visit!